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Disclosure: Sponsor provided the WHY You Will Love The New Year’s Eve Resolution Reset Blog App Giveaway, US WINNER, 24 hr respond to email winner, all information is from the sponsor and no compensation for this post.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

I barely slept the night before last waiting for the results of mom's PET Scan & Brain MRI. We have been waiting to have it done cause the hospital will not do it when your a patient. We've been getting pushed back into the hospital and in recent discovery mom spleen is dying, her blood flow was blocked in her leg & she got a stent. She was losing blood with a 4.9 Hemoglobin, they discovered stomach ulcers. "Maybe that where her blood had been going." She's been running extremely high fever and having fever blisters on her mouth which should have give indication. I guess her body was over fighting with a white cell count over 71,000.

Yesterday was a silver lining since we heard she had lung cancer. It is there in that one spot upper part of the lung and has not spread, it's the size of a large baseball. The Chemo/Radiation doctor says get it out. So next week we will talking to the surgeon and hopefully removing that part of her lung. So staging the cancer he would say it would be a stage 1 with the size of it and over all he was very positive.

I just want to say thank for each prayer, they mean so much and please continue. We still have a long road to go but, we have Faith and Will. Just wanted to share these beautiful flowers left on her pillow at the hospital Easter Sunday from strangers delivering roses, while she was having a procedure done.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Lately, I've cooked with the Spike Seasoning Magics Spices we received and didn't tell my family of the change. Well the baby knew and he liked the little secret. My bunch get in a rut and it feels like we are eating the same old thing over and over, a little spice can change that. Using the Spike Seasoning Magics Spices my chili took on a new flavor, my soup reminded me of my grandma's soup, and the lemon pepper fish was to restaurant perfection. A great sensation of smells come from every dish and each seasoning we tried. I got more good meal feed back from family using Spike Seasoning.

Hands down the Original Magic Spike Spice is the one to have for everything, a must have staple in the cabinet. Make sure you at least try that one, although I recommend them all for exceptional meal preparation.Bring your dishes alive like we did. My smallest & I gave them a taste plain and loved them. He was so funny sampling.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

I also just posted the GourmetGiftBaskets.com Brownie Sampler Giveaway which is going to be a quick one ending on 4/27/12. Winner must respond quick or a redraw will take place in 24hrs. Hurry Get in they are Yummy!

Mother's Day is coming up and if your mom or yourself has a sweet tooth then you should try the Brownie Sampler at GourmetGiftBaskets.com. You think "brownies ok" we like brownies right. Well these brownies are heavenly little squares, moist and smooth, really just too perfect.

Who knew that GourmetGiftBaskets.com also had delicious Baked Goods. Better than any brownies out of my oven and way more flavorful. If I had to pick just one flavor to have it would be soooo hard. Thank goodness for samplers cause they are all so good.

I tried 6 flavors of brownies from the sampler and the sampler we review had only one of each instead of two. That's probably a good thing or I'd over do it on them. We tried these remarkable tasting brownies:· Belgian Chocolate Chunk· White Chocolate Macadamia Blonde· Butterscotch Blonde· Cheesecake· Peanut Butter· Fudge Walnut

Enter to win GourmetGiftBaskets.com Brownie Sampler, like the one we reviewed!! Unfortunately, because Brownies are perishable goods, we can only offer this promotion to anyone in the lower 48 states. Must Response back in 24hr or new winner will be chosen. Ends 4/27 12:01 am.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. Sponsor provided sample product for me to test and one for giveaway.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

I'm very conscious of drinking water, a result of growing up in the country with a shallow well. It smelled and looked cloudy. I bet we had old pipes too. Life with well water can be down right dirty in fact plays into why I may not drank enough water growing up.

Today living in the country we still have well water but, nothing like well water back then. I have never smelled a smell in this water but, I do have water phobia which results in boiling our water just to be sure. So we usually just buy bottle water for drinking. Still does either of these have TDS in the water?

What is TDS? Total Dissolved Solids is compounds in the water that can not be removed with a traditional filter. The ZeroWater System Ion Exchange Filter reduces Lead and Chromium by passing through a five layer filtering system. According to your initial water score and region map you can estimate the life of one filter but, should replace filter when water reads 006.

How did our water measure up with the Electronic Water Testing Meter? We had a score of 59 with our well water. I also tested the bottled water I had on hand and it had a score of 17. That means our filter should last for 25 to 40 gallons of water according to the chart. The water testing meter is laboratory grade and uses batteries.

Can I tell a difference in the water taste? very little, maybe since my TDS levels are not that high before. It tastes a little more fresh than before. The ZeroWater Pitcher design has pour feature and a convenient spout on the bottom. Pitcher as has a holder on the lid for the TDS meter. Fits in my refrigerator but, filter will need to be left at room temperature before passing water through. I like the look and design of the pitcher.

ZeroWater system does not remove microbiological contaminants from water, your water should be deemed safe by proper inspection before drinking it. Well water should be checked and after that is out of the way you can concentrate on measuring the TDS in your water.

What came with the ZeroWater System we received:10 cup pitcherIon Exchange FilterElectronic Water Testing Meter ($21 value)

Earth Day is Coming up and did you know that ZeroWater is the first major company to recycle gravity-fed filter cartridges from US Consumers. Plus when you recycle filters you get $10 coupon for ever two filters returned. If your planning to purchase the ZeroWater Pitcher http://shopping2.zerowater.com/10cuppitcher.aspx use this coupon code MC30, which will give you 30% off a 10 Cup ZeroWater pitcher. Follow ZeroWater on facebook to keep up with the latest news.

Thanks to our sponsors we have for giveaway for two lucky continental United States readers the ZeroWater pitcher.

Disclosure: “I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of ZeroWater and received a water pitcher to facilitate my review, two pitchers to giveaway, and extra filters to thank me for taking the time to participate.” That did not influence my opinions & all opinions are my own. Some photos from sponsor site and some of my own.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

The thing I found most pleasurable about Live Clean is their conciseness for the environment. Main focus how it works and protects babies with organic botanical ingredients. Not only do they make products almost completely plant based but, they are aware of their carbon print in packaging. Live Clean Baby eco-friendly hypoallergenic baby care products for baby and the earth. Check them out Earth Day is April 22.

Live Clean sent the whole line of their Eco Friendly Live Clean Baby line for us to try. I was heading out of town when it first arrived and in between trips I have tried it out on my boys. They aren't quite babies but, my 2yr old is close enough that he still has baby fat fingers. My oldest has sensitive skin and I was eager to see how his skin would react. Tearless Shampoo, Moisturizing Baby Bath,and Moisturizing Baby Lotion, where all light scented. My little guys did well with all these and I felt better with these clean products for my family. Children learn from imitation, so what better product to learn to use than earth & family safe products.

My finding on all the products we used is no over whelming smells, big plus for us with sensitive sinusitis issues. The bar soap was there and it is excellent, nice lather and good clean feeling. I loved the Non-Petroleum Jelly 100% natural ingredients on my dry cracked lips, no smell. The smooth diaper cream did great and also wiped away easy from my fingers. I hate when it's hard to wipe off diaper cream.

Live Clean Baby Moisturizing Baby Lotion at over 8,000 Walgreens stores across the country and online at Walgreens.com. The certified organic botanical of chamomile and lavender, with natural emollients and aloe, ensure performance with natural, gentle ingredients with fast absorbing formula.

Thanks to Live Clean for sharing their great products in the Spring Fever Event. One US winner will win the complete line of the Live Clean Baby Products like we had the chance to review.

All pillows are not made equal or even similar. I quickly missed the new pillow I was trying when my stay at the hospital with mom started. Dacron Memorelle Fiberfill with Smart Technology filled my pillow cases up and was wide enough for my head and shoulder tops to fit on. This pillow returns back to it's original shape and doesn't go flat or stiff. Then I headed to the hospital and met up with their kind of pillows. The barely pancake pillow and the rubber drench pillow, yes I named the pillows and they were horrible.

I got to come home for a while and reunite with the fluffy softness of the Dacron Memorelle pillow. It's a fiber filled pillow with characteristics of memory foam technology without the stiffness. The Dacron Memorelle Fiberfill featuring Smart Technology adjusts to movement to find a better sleeping position with memory foam like alternative that gentler on pressure points. The Memorelle feature home care washing and drying ability, which is a great feature.

Dacron has made it's name recognized with over 50 years of trusted fiber technology and their quality seal on bedding products. As a popular home furnishing brand, fiber quality can be spotted with tag lines that read "Trust What's Inside" & "It Just Feels Good."

I've found a good pillow can make sleep come when your not even tired. Just laying my head down to read with my son at bed time results in me falling fast asleep too, even if I'm not that tired and plan on getting back up to accomplish more. It does just feels good!!

I need a distraction even for 5 minutes with Ultimate Blog Party with 5 Minutes for Mom again this year. This year so far has been hard, finding out recently my mom has lung cancer. My name is Jennifer and I'm a mom to a 5 & almost 3yr old boys, and love to go fishing with my husband & kids. I've been blogging since 2008 and sharing some wonderful product reviews & giveaways from great brands.

This my 3rd or 4th year at the blog party and I love meeting so many great bloggers. Leave me a comment, give me a follow on twitter at @lifesandcastle & facebook. Check out my giveaways (Step2 X-Rider, $50 Magic Cabin GC, & ToiletTree Bamboo Set) in the left sidebar & check back for some exciting ones coming. Remember to follow @5minutesformom and watch hashtag #UBP12 on Twitter.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Step2 weekend deal. Through Monday, April 16, the Naturally Playful Playhouse Climber & Swing Extension ships free ($29.99 value) with coupon code S2PCFS412 at checkout. Plus, it’s on sale for $549.99 (reg. $599.99). This offer is valid for US shipments only (to the 48 contiguous US states). Coupon code expires at 11:59PM ET on April 16, 2012. Sign up for the Step2 Birthday Club and special emails.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Ride on toys can give hours of enjoyment to children. The Step2 X-Rider is a strudy little ride on that is simple to assemble. On a scale from 1 to 10, it's an easy 1 to assemble in 5 minutes. The X-rider is for children 1 1/2 years and up to 43 pounds and affordable priced around $29.99. Can be used indoors and outdoors.

My 2 year old loves it he scoots all around the house with the Step2 X-Rider. It's compact and light weight easy for little ones to maneuver around and easily rolls forward and backwards. X design crossing each other makes the X-Rider secure and stable, providing great balance for little ones. My son thinks he is a stunt man and you can see the x design under when he turns it upwards in the video. With him bumping around and playing stunt man it's holding up great. Strong and durable, nothing less than what I would expect from Step2 toys.

My son has tremendously enjoyed the Step2 X-Rider and we thank Step2 for the opportunity to review one of their quality toys. My family knows Step2 products are made to last. We also have a Step2 X-Rider to giveaway!!! Yep! pretty exciting! US Winner, 48 contiguous US States!

Disclosure: All opionions are my own. Sponsor provided sample product for me to test and one for giveaway.

Don't underestimate the awesomeness of a kid. Farm Rich certainly doesn't. This month Farm Rich kicks off the third annual Kids Who Give contest, which celebrates young people making a positive impact in the world. To enter or learn more, visit www.kidswhogive.com.

Open to youth aged 7-17 who reside in the U.S., the contest awards kids giving back to their communities through volunteer work. For 2012, Farm Rich will recognize quarterly winners as well as an annual grand-prize winner who will receive $10,000 for the charity of his or her choice.

A first-, second-, and third-place winner will be chosen each quarter to receive donations of $3,500, $1,500 and $1,000, respectively, for their chosen charities. Honorable mentions each quarter get a “Pat on the Back” gift card of $250. The grand-prize winner, chosen through a public online vote next January, will receive a gift of $10,000 to donate to a selected charity or charities.

To enter, kids should go to www.kidswhogive.com and submit a 250- to 500-word essay explaining their volunteer work and how it has helped others. Entrants are also encouraged to include a creative representation of their story along with their entries. Contest rules, details and deadlines are included on the website.

Join the Kids Who Give conversations on Facebook or follow @kidswhogive on Twitter for contest updates. Video entries can also be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/farmrichkidswhogive.

“It's such an honor to recognize and celebrate these amazing kids, and we’re humbled to help them share their stories and experiences," says Jennifer Meetz, Director of Marketing for Farm Rich. "Our Kids Who Give entrants are an inspiration to us all."

Last year’s Kids Who Give honorees showed how kindness, determination and hard work can move mountains. They included:

Nathan Hickey of Monrovia, Calif., who formed Mountain Biking for Pablove to support kids with cancer.

Ricky Springer of McDonough, Ga., who started Racing for a Cause to educate others on the disorder eosinophillic colitis, which he suffers from himself.

Mariah Reynolds, a Cincinnati, Ohio, resident who’s been volunteering since she was 6 years old. Today, she’s behind three non-profits: Just One Heart, gLove One Another and Heal the Soul.

Rujul Zaparde from Plainsboro, N.J., founded Drinking Water for India, which raises money to build tube-wells in remote Indian villages.

About Farm Rich
Farm Rich created Kids Who Give in 2010 to honor youth who give back. The Farm Rich popular lineup of frozen snacks and appetizers is sold at grocery and club stores nationwide. More at www.farmrich.com.

Disclosure: Sharing this information from a sponsor, no compensation. Just goods information to know.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. I've missed blogging and I'm so far behind, first thing first family. After driving 430 miles Friday, I was so exhausted. My mom was put back in the hospital. Her Hemoglobin was 4.9 and she got 4 pints of blood and is doing better. Where is the blood going????

She has had so many procedures this past weekend it's not even funny. I drove back Saturday and brought the kids, she had a dangerous one done on Easter and I wanted us to be together. They did discover ulcer in her stomach and intestines. So much stress and high dosage of meds for fever is likely the cause. Sunday I drove back home and the kids got to color eggs. The Easter bunny didn't make it around til yesterday evening.

So I packed back up and drove back to the hospital this morning 3am to be with mom for a Bone Marrow Biopsy. They are going to hold off on it. She had blockage in her leg vein and she will get a stent. We are currently waiting on the next lab rat test of the day. Mom is so stressed and she said she hasn't made it to the hard part yet. I'm scared of the chemo/radiation treatments, I hear the person next to us crying after taking the meds. My heart going out to them and I'm feeling fear.

She still needs a PET Scan to see if the cancer has spread any. Waiting on it and then we will know if the will do the surgery or chemo/radiation first. We are just ready to fight it and get back to life and being a family. Just the simple things like at the kitchen table doing egg coloring with the kids together. My mom is my best friend and I love my mom!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Until my son started school I'd never really thought of labeling his stuff. It helps the teachers at PreK know what belongs to who. The plain truth little kids lose stuff a lot and this helps with groups of children. Labels can help the whole family get stuff back where it belongs, which is why I went with last name on the sample pack of Oliver's Labels I was sent. Just the last name allows each member of the family to use the same labels.

How Oliver's Labels Found-it™ works, Found-it™ tracking system is a FREE online Lost-and-Found system. A unique code on your label can be entered at the Oliver's website and connects you to your item via your email address.

I've added original and mini labels to my flip camera, my regular camera, and to my son's Leap Pad. These can be added to sippy cups and are dishwasher safe, must wait 4 hours after applying. We used the cross bone labels and my boys loved them. My youngest kept saying Oh Bad to The Bone.

Oliver's Labels has a large selection of prints to choose from and are non peel, non fade, and non scuff kid labels. Shoe Labels and stick-eez clothing labels are washable and easy for little ones to keep up with their own laundry at home, trips, ect.

Disclosure:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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About Me

Blogging since 2008. Family of 5, I'm married & have two sons. 7 year & 5yr old, they keep me very busy. Taking care of my mom a lung cancer survivor 2012. Our dog Pep the Bulldog darts in every chance he gets :)
I live in the south and I love to fish, campout, visiting the beach, homecooking, comfort, and enjoying life. My family enjoys giving our honest feedback about products.
Contact me at mccujennifer@gmail.com